LOGINAlpha Kael's POVThe barrel of the gun remained fixed on my chest, steadier than I would have expected.The guard's hands still trembled, but there was enough determination in his eyes to convince me he believed he could actually pull the trigger.I looked from the weapon to his face then I laughed and I took one slow step toward him."You are either incredibly brave or astonishingly stupid" I said.His grip tightened."Don't move. I mean it!" He said.I continued forward, my expression calm."You think pointing a gun at me will force me to change my mind?"His breathing became ragged."I don't have another choice" he said.I stopped only a few feet away."You had countless choices.""I exhausted all of them" he replied. "You exhausted your patience.""I exhausted my hope" he countered. For the first time since this absurd confrontation had begun, I looked at him properly.There were dark circles beneath his eyes, his uniform was creased, his beard had begun to grow unevenly.He loo
Liora's POVFor several long seconds, I couldn't breathe.Amarok's name echoed inside my head like the tolling of a bell.He stood beneath the silver glow of the moon as though he belonged to the shadows themselves. His dark cloak blended seamlessly with the night, and yet his piercing eyes remained fixed on me, unwavering and predatory.How had he gotten inside Alpha Kael's estate?This place was supposed to be impenetrable, every entrance was heavily guarded, every wall was patrolled.And yet, he was here, standing only a few feet away from me.My heart hammered against my ribs."You..."The word barely escaped my lips and Amarok smiled.He looked completely as I remembered him, his aura calm despite how dangerous I had heard he truly is."Liora, I've wanted to see you" he said, his voice was smooth.I instinctively took a step backward."What are you doing here?" I asked.His eyes softened ever so slightly."I'm here for you" he replied.My brows knitted together."For me?"He nodd
Alpha Kael's POVThe sweet, wild fragrance drifted through the corridors like a whisper, teasing my senses then a slow frown settled on my face."What are you doing now...?"She was supposed to be in her room. I had ordered her back there myself and Fay wasn't foolish enough to allow her disobey me.Which meant Liora might have snuck out.A sigh escaped me."You're becoming a troublesome habit."I changed direction without another thought as her scent continued to linger along the northern corridor.The torches lining the walls crackled softly, casting long shadows across the stone floor. Every few steps, I paused to breathe in again, allowing my wolf to separate her scent from the countless others lingering inside the estate.A small smile tugged at my lips despite myself."So, you've learned how to sneak around" I murmured.Interesting.The first time she'd attempted it, fear had practically poured off her. She had stumbled through the estate like a frightened rabbit.Tonight, she h
Liora's POV"This is a terrible idea."Fay had repeated those exact words at least ten times in the past few minutes.She paced back and forth across my room, twisting her fingers together so tightly that her knuckles had turned white."I mean it, Liora. Every time you sneak out, something terrible happens."I sat quietly on the edge of my bed, turning the folded note over in my hands. The handwriting hadn't changed, the message was still as brief as before.I had read those words so many times that I could practically recite them with my eyes closed.Fay stopped pacing and looked at me."Please tell me you've changed your mind" she said.I shook my head."I haven't."She groaned dramatically."I knew you were going to say that.""I have to go" I said."No, you don't. This could be a trap" she warned. "I know it's probably is a trap" I replied. "So why are you still going?"I looked down at the note resting in my lap."Because...what if it isn't?" My voice softened.Fay frowned."Wh
Alpha Kael's POVI stood before the tall windows of my study, my hands clasped behind my back as I watched the courtyard below.Everything looked exactly as it should but I wondered what had caused that noise earlier. A knock sounded once before the study door opened then Logan entered."You sent for me?"I didn't turn around immediately. Instead, I continued watching the courtyard."What happened down there?" I asked."It seems one of the cars had an electrical issue and it caused a small fire but it was quickly taken care of" he explained. I nodded but I was wasn't quite sure why I had this eerie feeling. Finally, I turned to face him."I've survived this long because I've learned to trust my instincts."His relaxed posture immediately disappeared."What are they telling you?""That we're missing something" I replied. Logan folded his muscular arms across his chest."We searched every section of the estate twice after the messenger incident, we doubled the guards, the walls are
Liora's POVIt had been hours since I had promised to listen to Fay and Tristan and I was bored.Utterly, painfully bored.I lay sprawled across the enormous bed, staring up at the intricately carved ceiling. I had traced every single pattern with my eyes so many times that I could probably redraw them from memory.The room suddenly felt far too small.I let out another dramatic sigh."I can't believe this."Fay looked up from the chair beside the window, where she was quietly sewing a small tear in one of my dresses."You've said that eight times."I groaned dramatically before burying my face in a pillow."This is his fault.""I had a feeling we'd circle back to Alpha Kael" she said.I lifted my head just enough to glare at her."Because it is his fault" I replied. "He told you to stay in your room" she said."He imprisoned me" I corrected. "You are not imprisoned" she said.I sat upright, folding my legs beneath me."The guards outside my door disagree" I replied. Three quick kn
Alpha Kael's POVThe fire’s warmth did nothing to chase the chill that had settled into my chest. She knelt there, slick with oil, the faint scent of jasmine clinging to her skin. The linen she wore was thin, clinging to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. Every curve, every swell, ever
I still remember the smell of smoke, thick and chocking, curling into my lungs, and the sound of my mother’s screams echoing through the house as she was slaughtered along with my father for trusting the wrong people.Though it has been a long time since that night, it is burned into me as if it ha
Liora’s POV“She is dangerous.”Alpha Kael’s voice followed me like a shadow as the guards dragged me from the room.My feet barely touched the floor as they hauled me through the doorway, their grips iron-tight around my arms. The heavy doors slammed shut behind us with a thunderous boom that ech
Liora's POVMy skin tingled as the maids’ hands glided over me, spreading oil down my shoulders, across the slope of my collarbone, over the curve of my breasts, down my ribs and over my waist. Their touch was careful, almost timid, as if I were a fragile artifact rather than a living woman.The s







